[“I’m glad you look healthy!”]
The newbie circled around , crying out. I could see decorations of a fireplace, colorful socks, reindeer and sleighs, baby angels. The newbie must really love Christmas. I wondered if his original world had Christmas too.
“You almost gave us all a heart attack.”
At my words, the volleyball frowned.
[“We really didn’t expect Chatterbox to turn out like that! We were all shocked. During the party, we made sure the contract prevented anyone from harming Honey’s group. But if Chatterbox ceases to be Chatterbox, the contract becos void!”]
Not just Chatterbox... maybe my own lifespan item broke. It couldn’t have expanded overnight, so it must be faulty.
“Wow, the star is bigger than !”
Yerim, who had flown to the top of the tree, waved both arms downward and shouted. The tree was as tall as a building. I handed a card to the newbie, who babbled excuses.
“Here, a Christmas card and New Year’s greeting.”
“rry Christmas and Happy New Year.” I’d deliberately chosen one closer to a Christmas card. Winter forest with pearlescent foil and Santa’s cabin in silver. The newbie fell silent. The two eyes painted on the volleyball fixed on the card and stayed still.
“Happy New Year to you too.”
[...“I’ve never received sothing like this before.”]
Apparently, his world had no tradition of exchanging cards or letters. A tentacle slid out of the volleyball to take the card. Was a tentacle really more convenient? I’d been bothered by the pink glitter and flower, but that was even creepier.
[“Thank you, Honey! Oh no—I didn’t prepare anything!”]
“This is our local custom, so it’s fine.”
[“Honey, Happy New Year to you too!”]
The card vanished from the tentacle. And don’t reach out with that tentacle again.
“So what’s the situation?”
[“Everyone was flustered by the Chatterbox incident. It’s extrely rare for a transcendent to abandon their rank. And to do it for another transcendent’s revenge! People say it’s shocking at that age. It’s too emotional.”]
“What’s wrong with being emotional? Emotions aren’t bad.”
I didn’t expect to defend that Chatterbox bastard, but still. If everyone were suprely rational, it would be peaceful... but empty. A lifeless, unwavering world doesn’t appeal to . Liking it in the first place is an emotion.
Sure, where there’s love, hate follows naturally. But rather than eradicate love to kill hate, I prefer embracing both and expressing love more.
“As long as you’re not harming others by chasing your own pleasure. Instead of senseless revenge, you could honor the departed and accumulate virtue. What wrong did I do?”
It was self-defense. If I had invaded soone’s ho to rip off a jellyfish’s neck, I’d understand. But soone tried to seize while I was doing nothing. Emotional or rational, intent matters. The newbie hesitated, eyes darting.
[...“But we’re trying to save the world.”]
“Right, so help us properly. You said a new Filial Addict is coming? Can’t you step back this ti?”
[...“Usually one side gives up by now.”]
The newbie erected a barrier to block others. Peace, pushed aside, scratched it angrily.
[...“We directly manage four Sources. On average, each Source devours one world at a ti, but sotis it tries two or three simultaneously.”]
“You’re greedy. How many worlds does our side have? The fifth Source?”
[...“It varies. These days, for worlds with civilizations, it’s hard to exceed a thousand worlds per Source.”]
...That’s enormous. Even with a billion inhabitants each, that’s unimaginable. No wonder these unfilial brats treat each human casually—and even discard an entire world if needed.
[...“The second Source once devoured so many it shrank to about ten worlds. It was close. If the system doesn’t stabilize early, it can be devoured within a year. And the devouring rate is accelerating.”]
“It’s faster now?”
[...“Yes. In ancient tis, before the system existed, a Source that created ten worlds devoured only one. But now it only devours. That’s why forcing it to spit them out is crucial.”]
If it stops creating and only devours, isn’t that dangerous?
“What does forcing it to spit them out involve exactly?”
[...“We partially destroy the Source. The fragnts beco new worlds. Civilizations form quickly in worlds born from a shattered Source. If well done, hundreds of worlds can erge at once! So lately...”]
The newbie glanced at Yuhyun slightly behind , then Song Taewon beyond him, then Yerim and Noah atop the tree, before returning his gaze to .
[...“It seems they focus more on discovering new transcendants than saving worlds. That’s why they’re more interested in Honey’s world. And especially Honey.”]
“My quirk?”
[...“Yes. After the reset, Honey’s siblings are growing faster. A kid gained the Armorer’s and Droplet’s powers, plus a Dragonkin and Goblin King erged. Overall, awakenings progressed much better than before. High-ranking growth influences those below.”]
“...So they told us to gather fifty people?”
[...“That and more. Anyway, a new Filial Addict will arrive soon. But they’ll minimize harm to Honey.”]
The newbie wavered. Couldn’t they just leave us alone?
“At least this one isn’t out for revenge like Chatterbox, right? I can handle indirect sabotage.”
[...“Well—!”]
The newbie tried to speak. At that mont, the barrier shattered.
Clang!
“Don’t act rashly.”
A pinecone ornant fell from the fireplace and struck the volleyball. A child Chaos hand appeared in an instant and pinned the newbie down.
“Right now, if the First Source speaks, you can neither block nor avoid it. Breaking restrictions just to give information is pointless. If you intend to break the restriction anyway, help with actions later. That’s better.”
...I’m not sure of the situation, but...
“Right, newbie. If the information is sothing I can’t prepare for, the elder is correct. And I don’t want you to break rules and beco unable to operate.”
[...“Honey.”]
Don’t look at like that. Sorry, but I didn’t say it out of pure concern. At least we still have the newbie—those other unfilial brats are totally untrustworthy.
“Elder, here’s your New Year’s card. Happy New Year.”
Bowing, the newbie handed the card to Chaos.
“Happy New Year.”
Yuhyun greeted subtly, and Yerim and the others offered New Year’s wishes as well. And then—
“Um, hello.”
Gyeol, hidden in Yerim’s shawl, peered out. It was ti to introduce him to the newbie. Transford into a human child, Gyeol respectfully greeted the child Chaos.
“Han-gyeol. Happy New Year, Grandfather.”
“He’s my son.”
Though born a monster, that didn’t matter. Chaos looked at Gyeol, then reached out and gently patted his fluffy head.
“I knew you existed.”
He must have sensed Gyeol even before Gyeol belonged to .
[...“He’s much weaker than the power I felt back then.”]
“Gyeol was the one who cleaned up Ruga and Peya’s ss. The power you felt was from then.”
Fortunately, both seed to have no issues with Gyeol. A smile spread across Gyeol’s once-tense face.
“Since Gyeol is a monster, if the world changes again, won’t he be affected?”
[...“Don’t worry. Once a monster is tad, he’s recognized as part of Honey’s world. Since this child belonged to Honey, even if the dungeon and monsters disappear, there’s no problem!”]
That was a relief. Peace and the other breeding ground monsters would be fine regardless of world changes. I needed to stockpile enough mana stones just in case.
[...“And Honey.”]
The newbie spoke determinedly.
[...“Give a gift.”]
“Huh?”
[...“If I receive sothing I truly value, it’ll be easier for to help Honey later. As paynt, it eases my burden too.”]
“Really? Then of course I’ll give you one!”
I must—but what? I opened my inventory. Sothing of value for him... he’s a transcendant.
‘He’d see even SS-rank items as junk.’
The drawer... too precious. And I couldn’t give a favor. Value... value... Nothing suited.
[...“Receiving the card fills part of that value.”]
A card? Just a Christmas card... Ah. Sothing the newbie lacked. Sothing he didn’t possess. I recalled all our shared monts, actions, reactions.
“Newbie, close your eyes for a mont.”
[...“Huh?”]
“To receive a gift, you must.”
The newbie spun around.
[...“I’m not looking!”]
“That’s right. Good job.”
I approached a side table and unrolled a drawing, then took out a pen.
“Oh? This—.”
“Shh, Yerim.”
Let’s see, the newbie... Hard to draw him as a volleyball. I rembered his probable original form—Cocker Spaniel–like hair and drooping ears adorned with flower-like clothes. Hmm...
“I don’t think # Nоvеlight # you have much artistic talent, sir.”
How rude. Still, it looked recognizable. Honestly, that was thanks to Myeong-woo’s earlier work. Since I was drawing, I added Gyeol in fairy-dragon form too. It turned out plausible, so I included the baby monster and Black Dragon too, then...
“...Is this Noah oppa and Riette unnī?”
Yerim whispered in disbelief.
“...No, this is Director Song. The hairstyle’s similar.”
“Oh... this is Uncle Sesung, right? The chains and coat.”
She couldn’t tell by faces. I barely could either. Still, I managed to sketch this person, that person, even the elder. It looked awful. Not that I’m that bad, but Myeong-woo’s photos set too high a bar...
“You’ve changed so much.”
Despite the ss, seeing the drawings stirred fresh emotions. So much had changed since the day Myeong-woo drew for , when Noah and Riette fought before the reset—and again since.
Embarrassed, I rolled the drawing back up and returned to the newbie.
“I don’t ask for much.”
Handing him the drawing, I said,
“I just want the people I love to live together happily and joyfully.”
The newbie’s tentacle unfolded the sketch. With distinct features, he could recognize himself.
“And Newbie, I hope you’ll be one of them now. Honestly, at first I doubted and hesitated, but now...”
He really is kind. I’d grown fond of his volleyball form and found his true form adorable. My sentint was genuine, not just to win his help. The newbie studied the drawing silently for a long mont, then spoke.
[...“ too.”]
His volleyball form seed to change. Others didn’t react, so I alone must have seen it.
[...“I wanted to save worlds, and I have.”]
His round, red eyes looked up at . A small hand, not a tentacle, held the drawing open.
[...“Because it’s the right thing. It’s what I’m ant to do.”]
“That is a good thing.”
[...“Yes. But Honey, I’ve never once wished for the happiness of people living in those worlds.”]
He said he’d taken it as re duty—no more, no less.
[...“I want you to be happy, Honey.”]
“Thank you.”
[...“I wish for your happiness. Always.”]
The newbie smiled shyly. The drawing vanished and the volleyball bounced again.
[...“A new Filial Addict will arrive soon. They may already be reaching out to those Chatterbox left behind!”]
“You’re right—they’d hate to waste such resources. I need to tidy things up fast.”
I worried especially about Chohwa-un, who harbored a grudge against . Even with Chohwa-un, I barely managed with the newbie’s help. If he gained Chatterbox’s power plus a new transcendent backing him, it’d be truly dangerous.
[...“We’ll protect you, Honey, but be careful!”]
“I will. And do you know anything about the Crescent Moon’s movents?”
[...“I heard it’s fully awakened.”]
“That... the Crescent Moon offered a deal. I refused.”
I didn’t ntion Seong Hyunjae. I trusted the newbie, but precisely because he liked , I had to be cautious. If I gave up Seong Hyunjae, our world would be safe—and they claid they could completely seal the Sources. So I might hand him over while he promised to protect . At my words, the newbie bounced up.
[...“Impossible! What was the offer?”]
“I can’t say now.”
[...“A contract? I’ll find out. Quietly!”]
“Please do.”
As I prepared to leave, child Chaos said to ,
“Na Black Dragon contrary to his nature. That will temper his temperant.”
“Sir? He didn’t seem that bad just now.”
“Because you’ll pamper him again. If he’s to stay in your world, it’s best to moderate his nature. He’s inherently unsociable. If you let him live alone, it doesn’t matter.”
...I didn’t want to bla his nature, but I recalled Black Dragon’s care for the little one. If we’ll live together, perhaps I should heed the elder’s advice. After all, Black Dragon will accept his na—just need to ask him.
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